Gas mixing apparatus



Oct. 24, 1944. J. K. HELLER GAS m APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 4,1933

'2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m d ya; and ail") nvvewrae ATTOENEK Oct. 24, 1944. K, HELLER I R8 2, GAS urxme APPARATUS Original ,Filed Feb. 4, 1933' 2 She e'ts-Sheet? B Maw X /M% ATTORNE).

Reissued Oct. 24, I944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22,550 GAS MIXING mana'rus John K. Heller, San Francisco, Calif sssignor, by mesne assignments, to Gasalr Corporation, San

Francisco, Calif I Original No. 2,023,809, dated December 10, 1935,

Serial No. 655,237, F'cbl'ulry 4, 1933.

Application for reissue August 1, 1944, Serial No.

Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic machine particularly intended for handling gases, such as butane, etc., in liquid form, the machine functioningto convert the liquid into gas and to autothe liquids into gas and for diluting the same with air as their B. t. u. content is very high, but practically all methods. as far as I am. aware, bleed Fig(8 is a. plan view of the slide valve showing the cover removed.

Fig. 'l is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the aspirators.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 4, which is a diagrammatic view of a small town showing the method of distribution prior to and after mixing of the gas, it may be stated that the gas, for instance butane. in liquid form is delivered to the town and is placed in a main'tank, such as indicated at A. The gas a in liquid form is then distributed through a mainthe liquidv down to a low pressure through reducing valves, or the like, thereby wasting considerable power. Other power, usually electrically driven compressors, is then employed to recompress the gas and air to mix the same before the gas is delivered to the supply mains for vdis-.

tribution and use. Such methods require a central mixing station or plant and pipe lines or mains to supple the consumers, and the capacity of both plant and mains must be comparatively large to take care or peak loads.

The object of the present inventionis generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of the character described; to provide a machine or apparatus which is adapted to make use of the power available in the expansion of liquid gases of the character described to introduce the air or other gases required for dilution purposes; to provide an appsratus which is capable of handling loads from minimum to peak and which is entirely automatic in operation over the entire range of load; and

the mixpipe line 2 and branch lines! to mixing machines generally indicated at 13, these machines being located in different districts of the town. The gas in liquid form is thus delivered to difierent districts. It is here converted into gas and mixed with air in the machines indicated at B, and is then distributed in the form of a mixed gas through pipe lines, indicated at 4, which deliver the gas to the consumers. In Fig. 4, six mixing machines are shown. These machines are all identical in construction and operation and the description of one will accordingly suflice. I v

An enlarged vertical sectional view of the mixing machine is shown inFig. 1. In this view, B indicates a housing of any suitable construction. Mounted within the housing is a reducing valve 5 of any suitable construction to which gas in liquid form is delivered through the pipe 3. This pipe is connected with one side of the reducing valve and a pipe 8 is connected with the other side.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of distributing the gas prior to and after mixing.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the slide valve.

The liquid in more or less gaseous form, after passing through the reducing valve, enters pipe 8 and this is connected with a coil generally in-. dicated at I. The gas in passing through this coil is expanding and produces a cooling or refrigerating efl'ect, and this effect is utilized to remove any excess moisture from the air which is to be utilized for mixing purposes. The gas,- after passing through the coil 1, entersa. second coil generally indicated at l, and this is maintained in a submerged condition in a tank 9 placed within the housing B, said tank containing a heating.

fluid such as water, oil, or the like, which is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a burner indicated at ID. A thermostat II is actuated by the liquid in the tank 8 and this controls a valve I! which, in turn, regulates the ilow of gas to the burner ill, the function of the thermovalve l4 and is then connected with the thermo-- stat control valve l2, and after passing through that valve, it enters pipe I5 which is connected with a burner. A by-pass pipe i6 is also employed and this serves as a constant feeder to a pilot burner indicated at l1.

Under certain conditions of operation it may happen that the pilot burner becomes extinguish d under such conditions it is desirable to shut 011 the gas supply both to the pilot burner and to the coils 1 and 8. This is accomplished as follows: Mounted directly above the .pilot burner H, or closely adjacent the same, is a thermostat II of the bi-metallic type, or the like, and. connected thereto is a rod 19, the opposite side of which'is supported by a roller III. A shoulder 2! is formed on the rod and this shoulder supports a yoke 22 having a rod-like exten sion 23 on its upper end. Mounted on the pipe b the extension 23 and as the yoke is normally held in raised position by the shoulder 2|, both valves will normally be opened, but if the pilot light should. become extinguished for any reason whatsoever thermostat II will cool and will bow in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 1,

thereby imparting longitudinal movement to the rod I 9. Shoulder 2| will thus move out of en- 1 gagement with the yoke 21 and will drop by gravity, thus causing both valves II and II automatically to close and the mixing machine asa whole will become inoperative.

- Suppose on the other hand that the valves are open and the machine is functioning under normal conditions. If that is the case, the gas from the reducing valve I will pass through the coil I and then through the coil 8, and as that coil is submerged in a heated fluid, the temperature of the gas will be raised to a predetermined point. After leaving the coil" 8 the gas passes through a pipe 21 which is connected with a slide valve, generally indicated at 28. This valve is best illustrated in Fig. 5. It consists of a housing having a cover member 29. A chamber II is formed within the housing to which the gas from pipe 21 is delivered. Three-discharge ports ll, Stand 33 are formed in the housing and these communicate with pipes 81-, li -and Ila, and these pipes in tum communicate with a series of aspirators, .generally indicated at ll,

' 32", and 13 hereinafter to be described. A valve is slidably mounted interior of the valve housing and is adapted to open and close the ports 3!, l2 and II. The valve is actuated by a stem 38 and this is, in turn, actuatedhy a bellowstype of diaphragm generally indicated at 37.

This diaphragm is connected through a pipe 18 with the supply main or pipe 4 and as the gas pressure in this main increases or decreases, diaphragm 31 will expand or contract. If the pressure in the line I has reached the predetermined maximum, then bellows or diaphragm 31 will lift of the valve.

. reach its point of maximum expansion. Rod 38 will accordingly be moved inwardly with relation rod 38 and valve 3! will move in the opposite direction and port 3| will be opened. If there is a further pressure drop port 32 will also be opened, and under conditions of maximum load, all three ports will be opened.

Valve 35 is held on its seat merely by pressure of gas within the housing and it should be as freely movable as possible to prevent binding or sticking. To accomplish this, lugs are formed on opposite ends of valve 35 and across rod 35', see Fig. 6, engages these lugs. A floating connection is thus formed between the rod 38 and the valve and binding or sticking is prevented, and in order to prevent anyleakage at the point where the rod 3 extends through the valve housing a, bellows-type of diaphragm, such as indicnted at I'l may be employed. Ratchet teeth or detents, such as indicated at II", are also formed on the rod and these are engaged by a weight actuated roller II, the function thereof being to transmit a step by step movement to the valve during its movement in one direction or another.

Movement of the rod 36 and the valve in one direction is obtained by the expanding action of the bellows or-diaphragm l1, and movement in the opposite direction as the diaphragm contracts is insured bya weight actuated lever 40, or the like. i

The aspirators, indicated at II, 32' and 33". are all identical in construction and the description of one will 'suflice. An enlarged sectional view of one of the aspirators is shown in Fig. '7. It consists of a casing li with which pipe II is connected. This pipe terminates in a nozzle ll and this discloses the upper end of a Venturishaped tube 42. An opening 43 is formed in the housing and this is normally closed by means of a disc valve 44. This valve is provided with a stem which is guided in an adjustable bushing I5 and this bushing also functions to limit the uncovered by the valve 35, gas under pressure will discharge through pipe 3| and through nozzle 4|. An injector action is obtained at the throat of venturi 42. A slight evacuated condition is thus produced within the housing, causing 'valve II to open. Air is in this manner introduced through the opening ,0 and is mixed and discharged with the gas through the venturi 42. This is, in turn, connected with a main or supply line 4 and the gas mixed with the proper proportion of'air is thus conducted to the consumer; the proportion of air required being obtained by adjusting the lift of the valve l4 through means of the bushing 45 and any proportion desired can thus be obtained and will be automatically maintained when the apparatus is in operation.

A check valve l! is mounted in the supply main [so as to prevent a back rush of gases when valve 35 is closed.

In actual operation it will be noted that the line 4. The air employed for mixing purposes enters the housing through a pipe 50, see Fig. 1. It passes downwardly in the direction of arrow :1 between the end of the housing 13 and a-plate 5|. It then passes in under the plate 5| and upwardly in the direction of the arrow around the coils 1.

Thm'coils are cooled by the refrigerating action When port 3| is opened or i The gas or flue generally indicated at 54.

passing over the cooling coil 1. dischar es through in the air it will be precipitated the moment the dew point is reached. Any moisture precipitated drains to a bottom plate 52 which terminates in a pan This is disposed directly above the burner Ill and accumulation of moisture is thus prevented as it is evaporated as fast as it reaches the pan and will thus escape through the stack The air, after an opening 85. It then passes around the heater housing I and then through an air filter I] of suitable construction. It finally enters the main chamber of the housing 13, but before entering said chamber has been ridden of dust and dirt,

excess moisture has been removed, and its temperature has been raised due to passage around the heating bath 9. From the main chamber B the air is admitted to the aspirator housings 3 lb, etc., through valves and at this point is mixed with the gasand delivered to the main 4. The

- air entering the pipe 5. serves two purposes, first that of supplying the aspirators lib, etc., and secondly that of supplying the burner l0 and the pilot light H with air to support combustion. The air entering pipe Iii, as previously stated, passes downwardly in front 01 the platell then upwardly between the coil I and then discharges through the opening 55 and passes around the heater housing 9, and finally passes through the filter 51 into chamber B.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that there is a passage in front of the filter and that the passage communicates at the lower end with the chamber in which the burner II and the pilot light H are positioned. when the apps.-

sion without material additional cost, as the addition of one or more mixing machines on a line does not materiallyaifect'the capacity of the liquid lines supplying the same. All the mixing plants are entirely automatic in operation and as such require comparatively little service and attention. A1101 this materially reduces cost of gas distribution and service which is one of the important factors. particularly in small town. 1

obtained by vaporization is also utilized to dehumidify 'the air employed as it removes excess moisture and to that extenteliminates the bugeaboo of internal corrosion. The gases which evap-v orate or expand at comparatively low pressure and temperatures may be employed, for instance .-may be employed for mixing gases other than i ratus is in operation therewill be a suction in ber B to supply the aspirators and part of it into the chamber containing the burners so as to supply air for combustion; the flow of air from the passage being automatically directed through the filter or down into the combustion chamber as conditions demand.

By employing the method oifv expanding and distributing liquid gases, such as disclosedin this application,.outside power is eliminated as the apparatus makes use of the power available in the expansion of the liquid gases to drawthe air necessary for dilution. A so-called main plant is also eliminatedas the main .plant or station employed in this instance is nothing more or less than a large tank or container which functions as a receiver and asource of supply for the liquid gas. By distributing the gas in liquid form small pipes may be run to diil'erent points or districts of the town. Small shallow ditches are sufficient port in its housing with itsrespective aspirator j such as casing-head gasoline, hence if the temperature should be to low to evaporate casinghead gasoline a slight increase in the temperature of the heating bath will produce therequired temperature and fuels of different character are thusavailable. The mixing machines those described, for instance it may be used in chemical plants and thelike.

Mixing machines may also be made in the form or portable units for use of present gas companies as maid in repair work, as it often happens that repair work must be clone on a gas It would ordiline feeding a group ,of houses. narily involve shutting off the service to these houses but by hooking up a portable tank and mixing machine, the apparatus will supply gas.

to the group of houses while the line is under repair. 1

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:'

1. In a gas. mixing apparatus of the character.

described a plurality of aspirator housings, each having a suction producing nozzle, a check valve controlled air inlet for each housing and nozzle, a valve housing connected with a source of gas supplyunder pressure, a plurality of gas valve ports, a plurality of pipes each connecting a gas nozzle, a valve in the-valve housing movable to shut off or supply gas under pressure through said gas ports to one or several or all ofthe aspirator nozzles, a gas supply main into which- :the several aspirators dischargeand means actuated by variations in*pres sure in said main for moving the valveto open or close said gas ports one at a time to shut off or supply gas under pressure therethrough to one or to several or to all of the nozzles in the respective aspirators'in a tep by step sequence.

2. In a gas mixing apparatus oi the character described a plurality of aspirator housings, each having a suction producing nozzle, a check valve controlled air-inlet for eachhousing and nomle, a valve housing connected with a source of gas supply under pressure, a plurality of' gas valve ports, a plurality of pipe each connecting a gas port in its housing with its respective aspirator nozzle, a valve in the valvehousing movable to shutofl or supply gas under pressure through said g s ports to one or several or all of the aspirator nozzles, a gas supply main into which the several aspirators discharge, a housin'g having a diaphragm, said housing being connected with the gas supply main and the diaphragm being'actuated by pressure variations in the main, and means actuated by movement of the diphragm for transmitting movement to the valve in the valve housing so a automatically to open or to close said ports one at a time 'to shut oilor supply 88s under pressure to one or all of the nozzles .in the respective aspirators in a step by stepsequence.

9 JOHN K. HELLER. 

